Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk MBE (born 28 January 1929) is an English clarinettist. He is known for his trademark goatee, bowler hat, striped waistcoat and his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register clarinet style.
Bilk earned the nickname Acker from the Somerset slang for 'friend' or 'mate'. His parents tried to teach him the piano, but as a boy, Bilk found it restricted his love of outdoor activities including football. He lost two front teeth in a school fight and half a finger in a sledging accident, both of which Bilk has claimed to have affected his eventual clarinet style. He learned the clarinet while serving in the Royal Engineers in the Suez Canal Zone after his sapper friend John A. Britten gave him a clarinet that he had bought at a bazaar and had no use for. The clarinet had no reed and Britten fashioned a makeshift reed for the instrument out of some scrap wood, and by the mid-1950s he was playing professionally.
Bilk was part of the boom in traditional jazz that swept the United Kingdom in the late 1950s. He first joined Ken Colyer's band in 1954, and then formed his own ensemble, The Paramount Jazz Band, in 1956. Four years later, their single "Summer Set," a pun on their home county co-written by Bilk and pianist Dave Collett, reached number five in the British charts and began a run of eleven top 50 hit singles.
InstrumLike a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel thats turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of its own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half-forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble
Someone tosses in a stream
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle in your head
Why did summer go so quickly?
Was it something that you said?
Lovers walk along a shore
And leave their footprints in the sand
Is the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand?
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And the fragment of a song
Half-remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong?
When you knew that it was over
You were suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the colour of her hair
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
[Instrumental]
The first time
Ever I saw your face
I thought the sun
Rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars
Were the gifts you gave
To the dark
And the empty skies
My Love
To the dark
And the endless skies
The first time
Ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth
Move in my hands
Like the trembling heart
Of a captive bird
That was there
At my command
My Love
That was there
At my command
The first time
Ever I lay with you
I felt your heart
So close to mine
And I knew our joy
Would fill the earth
And last
Till the end of time
My love
And would last
Till the end of time
The first time
Ever I saw
Your face
Your face
Your face
Here I stand, watching the tide go out
So all alone and blue
Just dreaming dreams of you
I watched your ship as it sailed out to sea
Taking all my dreams
And taking all of me
The sighing of the waves
The wailing of the wind
The tears in my eyes burn
Pleading, "My love, return"
Why, oh, why must I go on like this?
Shall I just be a lonely stranger on the shore?
The sighing of the waves
The wailing of the wind
The tears in my eyes burn
Pleading, "My love, return"
Why, oh, why must I go on like this?
I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey,
Gonna set my heart at ease.
Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,
to renew old memories.
I got my bags, I got my reservations,
Spent each dime I could afford.
Like a child in wild anticipation,
Long to hear that, "All aboard!"
Seven...that's the time we leave at seven.
I'll be waitin' up at heaven,
Countin' every mile of railroad track, that takes me back.
I never knew my heart could be so yearny.
Why did I decide to roam?
I'm gonna take that Sentimental Journey,
Sentimental Journey home.
[Instrumental]You ask me if there'll come a time
when I grow tired of you;
never my love, never my love.
You wonder if this heart of mine
will lose its desire for you;
never my love,
never my love.
What makes you think love will end
when you know that my whole life
depends on you?
You say you fear I'll change my mind
I won't require you,
Never my love,
never my love.
How can you think love will end
when I've asked you to spend your
[Instrumental]And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, Ill say it clear,
Ill state my case, of which Im certain.
Ive lived a life thats full.
Ive traveled each and evry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, Ive had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, Im sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.
Ive loved, Ive laughed and cried.
Ive had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
(moon river, wider than a mile)
(I’m crossin’ you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after that same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
[Instrumental]
Jean, Jean, roses are red
All the leaves have gone green
And the clouds are so low
You can touch them and so
Come out to the meadow, Jean.
Jean, Jean, you're young and alive
Come out of your half-dreamed dream
And run, if you will, to the top of the hill
Open your armms, Bonnie Jean.
Till the sheep in the valley, come home my way
Till the stars fall around me and find me alone
When the sun comes a-singin', I'll still be waiting'
For Jean, Jean, roses are red
And all of the leaves have gone green
While the hills are ablaze
With the moon's yellow haze
Come into my arms, Bonnie Jean
(Jean, Jean)
Jean, you're young and alive
Come out of your half-dreamed dream
And run, if you will, to the top of the hill
Come into my arms, Bonnie Jean
Jean
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
It all came so easy
All the lovin' you gave me
The feelings we shared
And I still can remember
How you touched me so tender
You told me you cared
We had a once in a lifetime
But I just didn't see until it was gone
A second once in a lifetime
Maybe too much to ask but I swear from now on…
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end, ooh…ooh
Now I'm seein' clearly
How I still need you near me
I still love you so
There's something between us
That won't ever leave us
There's no letting go
We had a once in a lifetime
But I just didn't know it till my life fell apart
A second once in a lifetime
Isn't too much to ask 'cause I swear from the heart…
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end
Never end
The best of romances
Deserves second chances
I'll get to you somehow
`Cause I promise now…
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end
"I Can't Stop Loving You"
[Verse 1:]
I think about the day I met the perfect stranger, I think about us.
And I think about the day I got wrapped around your fingers, I think about us.
The sun was shinning on you
The lord was smiling on me
And love was calling us I had my mind made up.
[Chorus:]
And I can't stop loving you
I can't help myself
And I can't get over you
No matter what I tell myself baby.
[Verse 2:]
Never thought I'd ever love any one else in my weakness, I think about us.
And I think about the day you left without speaking, I think about us.
I think about the love we had for our children, I think about us.
I think about the way we laughed without a reason, I think about us girl.
There will be no more lies
Somebody tell me why I feel like I'm dying.
Lord what's come over me
Ohh baby can't you see
[Chorus:]
That I can't stop loving you
I can't help myself
And I can't get over you
No matter what I tell myself baby
Yea Yea
I can't stop loving you (stop loving you girl)
No matter how hard I try
And I can't get over you baby
And I don't know why
I think about us [x7]
Ooooohh, baby.
I can't get over you!
Oh yea, baby.
Mmmmmmm, Girl.
What am I gonna do?
Oooooooh, baby.
I think about - the love we had.
I think about the way you laugh.
Mmmmm, girl, hey - hey.
I can't get over you!
I can't stop missing you baby,
I can't stop wanting you baby,
I can't stop loving you
GIRL-erl-erl
Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey
I CAN'T GET OVER YOU!!!
I can't stop missing you girl,
I can't stop feeling you girl.
I can't stop thinking bout you!
I can't stop dreaming bout you
[Instrumental]Hey, Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey, Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better.
And any time you feel the pain, hey, Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
Well don't you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey, Jude! Don't let her down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember, to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better.
So let it out and let it in, hey, Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey, Jude,
You'll do, the movement you need is on your shoulder
Hey, Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Chorus:
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.
Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.
chorus
I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land,
Your love and good-will for to have.
chorus
If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.
chorus
My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.
chorus
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
but still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.
chorus
Well, I will pray to God on high,
that thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.
chorus
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.
When youre weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
Im on your side. when times get rough
And friends just cant be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
When youre down and out,
When youre on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
Ill take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
Im sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water